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Posted on: 10/20/14 1:24 PM ET
I like the idea of being able to go around smaller garments with the smaller foot on the Enlighten. I have a Janome 1000 but would sell it if I like using the coverstitch on the Evolution. A dealer told me I can get a narrower foot to use on the Evolution. Does the narrower foot on an Evolution work as well as the regular Enlighten? I am working on men's shirts but also have a stash ready to go on knit tops for women; and sometimes sew children's sizes and doll clothes.
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Klunky
Posted on: 10/20/14 1:39 PM ET
I don't have experience with the Evolution but I do have an Enlighten and I love this machine! I also have the separate coverstitch Babylock makes.
One thing that would bother me in conversion are the tiny screws on the Evolution to change needle position. I have a Bernina 1300MDC and that's something I don't like on that machine when converting. The coverstitch has them but you don't change needles that much. But the Enlighten has nice big ones and I change needles on my serger much more often.
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One thing that would bother me in conversion are the tiny screws on the Evolution to change needle position. I have a Bernina 1300MDC and that's something I don't like on that machine when converting. The coverstitch has them but you don't change needles that much. But the Enlighten has nice big ones and I change needles on my serger much more often.
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So many projects, not enough time
At my house in VA:
Bernina Activa 220, Kaffe 475, B790
Singer 201-2, 221, BL Enlighten, BL Acclaim, BL Sashiko, BL Euphoria, Consew 75T, Tipton Boss
At my Lake House in PA:
"new" Bernina B570, Bernina 1010, Singer 503A, BL Evolution
http://sewingtechie.blogspot.com/
At my house in VA:
Bernina Activa 220, Kaffe 475, B790
Singer 201-2, 221, BL Enlighten, BL Acclaim, BL Sashiko, BL Euphoria, Consew 75T, Tipton Boss
At my Lake House in PA:
"new" Bernina B570, Bernina 1010, Singer 503A, BL Evolution
http://sewingtechie.blogspot.com/
Posted on: 10/20/14 2:01 PM ET
Annenet, thanks for your reply. The Enlighten was my first choice but the dealer is encouraging the Evolution. I have not yet seen in person how to switch to the CS, but would be serging around smaller areas more frequently than I need a coverstitch. Tiny screws are not on my list of things to
fuss with. Least expensive for me would be to keep the Janome and buy the Enlighten I guess.
-- Edited on 10/20/14 at 2:03 PM --
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fuss with. Least expensive for me would be to keep the Janome and buy the Enlighten I guess.
-- Edited on 10/20/14 at 2:03 PM --
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Klunky
Posted on: 10/20/14 2:03 PM ET
If you like your Janome I would say that is the way to go! I got my Enlighten and CS because I got tired of switching and prioritizing wht the combo machine.
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So many projects, not enough time
At my house in VA:
Bernina Activa 220, Kaffe 475, B790
Singer 201-2, 221, BL Enlighten, BL Acclaim, BL Sashiko, BL Euphoria, Consew 75T, Tipton Boss
At my Lake House in PA:
"new" Bernina B570, Bernina 1010, Singer 503A, BL Evolution
http://sewingtechie.blogspot.com/
At my house in VA:
Bernina Activa 220, Kaffe 475, B790
Singer 201-2, 221, BL Enlighten, BL Acclaim, BL Sashiko, BL Euphoria, Consew 75T, Tipton Boss
At my Lake House in PA:
"new" Bernina B570, Bernina 1010, Singer 503A, BL Evolution
http://sewingtechie.blogspot.com/
Posted on: 10/20/14 2:37 PM ET
In reply to Klunky
Have an Evolution and have a separate coverstitch machine. Yes, I feel pampered. No, I don't want to be bothered with changing back and forth between coverstitch and serging functions on a single machine.
Since you are working on men's shirts you will probably understand the preference to apply myself to all the planning, prep, fitting and tweaking. Once sample stitching has been tested for a project I'm ready for the machines to function on auto-pilot. Having separate machines for the two functions achieves that auto-pilot mode.
Why do I have an Evolution........
I had no idea how fantastic the BL products in this category would be and, therefore, no idea that the BL coverstitch would be acquired within a year of acquiring the BL Evolution.
I clung to a five thread serger stitch option like a child holding on to a favorite blankie. Most likely, the five stitch functionality could be easily replaced with a combination of sewing and serger functions. Or, even a double pass with the serger. If five threads will be used for just a small percentage of your projects, please read all of the favorable comments from the happy Enlighten owners. I've been using a serger since the dark ages so have no complaints about the maneuverability of the Evolution. However, carefully consider what you will be sewing. If you will rarely use the five thread stitches, you're sure to enjoy the Enlighten just a bit more than the Evolution for the minute details you'll encounter on a man's dress shirt.
Finally, I walked into a fantastic deal when I purchased the Evolution about 2.5 years ago. With the Gold Standard warranty and extra guide it cost about $200 more than an Enlighten without the Gold Standard warranty and extra guide. And, the price was so low that I could sell it today for more than I paid for it. So....I was comfortable knowing that I could purchase the Evolution and switch out later to an Enlighten without incurring a loss.
Suggesting.......
Researching the percentage of need for five thread stitches.
Hands on comparisons of the Enlighten and the Evolution including changing needles and rethreading for at least three different stitches.
Researching pricing, new and used to be open to the pricing options I encountered on the two machines.
Check the BL website for hands on educational opportunities in your area. This is a final step as you would want to be sure that any discounts offered at the event would truly be discounts on the best dealer/price combo.
Finally........
My first BL experience was a dealer driven disaster. I am thrilled that positive PR member experience encouraged me to try again with another dealer. The overwhelmingly positive BL comments on the Internet tell me that my initial negative experience was unusual. Would like to caution though that you should demo the dealer as well as the machine.
And.......
The first practice stitching consisted of lots and lots of tight inside and outside curves. You may want to include this when you demo the machines.
-- Edited on 10/20/14 at 2:41 PM --
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Since you are working on men's shirts you will probably understand the preference to apply myself to all the planning, prep, fitting and tweaking. Once sample stitching has been tested for a project I'm ready for the machines to function on auto-pilot. Having separate machines for the two functions achieves that auto-pilot mode.
Why do I have an Evolution........
I had no idea how fantastic the BL products in this category would be and, therefore, no idea that the BL coverstitch would be acquired within a year of acquiring the BL Evolution.
I clung to a five thread serger stitch option like a child holding on to a favorite blankie. Most likely, the five stitch functionality could be easily replaced with a combination of sewing and serger functions. Or, even a double pass with the serger. If five threads will be used for just a small percentage of your projects, please read all of the favorable comments from the happy Enlighten owners. I've been using a serger since the dark ages so have no complaints about the maneuverability of the Evolution. However, carefully consider what you will be sewing. If you will rarely use the five thread stitches, you're sure to enjoy the Enlighten just a bit more than the Evolution for the minute details you'll encounter on a man's dress shirt.
Finally, I walked into a fantastic deal when I purchased the Evolution about 2.5 years ago. With the Gold Standard warranty and extra guide it cost about $200 more than an Enlighten without the Gold Standard warranty and extra guide. And, the price was so low that I could sell it today for more than I paid for it. So....I was comfortable knowing that I could purchase the Evolution and switch out later to an Enlighten without incurring a loss.
Suggesting.......
Researching the percentage of need for five thread stitches.
Hands on comparisons of the Enlighten and the Evolution including changing needles and rethreading for at least three different stitches.
Researching pricing, new and used to be open to the pricing options I encountered on the two machines.
Check the BL website for hands on educational opportunities in your area. This is a final step as you would want to be sure that any discounts offered at the event would truly be discounts on the best dealer/price combo.
Finally........
My first BL experience was a dealer driven disaster. I am thrilled that positive PR member experience encouraged me to try again with another dealer. The overwhelmingly positive BL comments on the Internet tell me that my initial negative experience was unusual. Would like to caution though that you should demo the dealer as well as the machine.
And.......
The first practice stitching consisted of lots and lots of tight inside and outside curves. You may want to include this when you demo the machines.
-- Edited on 10/20/14 at 2:41 PM --
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Each fallen petal reveals a life pollinated by a colony
and nurtured by The Master Gardener.
and nurtured by The Master Gardener.
Posted on: 10/21/14 0:13 AM ET
Thank you 7yearstitch. I will try all your suggestions because they make a lot of sense.
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Klunky
Posted on: 10/21/14 8:17 AM ET
I'm not sure about a narrow foot for the Evolution but there is a new curved foot which came out with the Ovation and is also usable on the Evolution, which helps with maneuverability. Good advice to practice doing the switch-out between CS and serging and see how much it bothers you. I do love my Evolution though.
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Mostly Babylock: Ellegante, Crescendo, Evolution, Ovation. Plus a Sailrite LSZ-1
Posted on: 10/21/14 8:25 AM ET
One big reason I had no interest in the Evolution was the eight threads. My dealer even said it was of limited use. And I couldn't put it away in my cabinet - too wide. Babylock UK had a five thread on their site a while back and I wonder why that wasn't avaiable elsewhere.
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So many projects, not enough time
At my house in VA:
Bernina Activa 220, Kaffe 475, B790
Singer 201-2, 221, BL Enlighten, BL Acclaim, BL Sashiko, BL Euphoria, Consew 75T, Tipton Boss
At my Lake House in PA:
"new" Bernina B570, Bernina 1010, Singer 503A, BL Evolution
http://sewingtechie.blogspot.com/
At my house in VA:
Bernina Activa 220, Kaffe 475, B790
Singer 201-2, 221, BL Enlighten, BL Acclaim, BL Sashiko, BL Euphoria, Consew 75T, Tipton Boss
At my Lake House in PA:
"new" Bernina B570, Bernina 1010, Singer 503A, BL Evolution
http://sewingtechie.blogspot.com/
Posted on: 10/21/14 8:36 AM ET
In reply to Klunky
It's not just matter of smaller feet with the Enlighten over the combo (Evolve/Evolution/Ovation) machines that is helpful with tight areas/curves; it's also the placement of the knives, which is set closer to the foot area on the Enlighten.
Through my own experience I believe the separate CS and Enlighten do their respective jobs a touch better than the combo machines.
Switching between CS and serging on the BL combo machines is not difficult; but it's still a PITA to me, and especially with the way I sew, where I'm often going back & forth between CSing and serging during a single garment. The wider feed dogs of the combo machine made crossed seams more difficult -with or without the smaller presser foot.
I had a combo machine (Evolve) and it was lovely; but it didn't take me long to realize that a separate serger (non-combination) and coverstitch were far more suitable to me.
And your milage may differ substantially.
-- Edited on 10/21/14 at 8:37 AM --
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Through my own experience I believe the separate CS and Enlighten do their respective jobs a touch better than the combo machines.
Switching between CS and serging on the BL combo machines is not difficult; but it's still a PITA to me, and especially with the way I sew, where I'm often going back & forth between CSing and serging during a single garment. The wider feed dogs of the combo machine made crossed seams more difficult -with or without the smaller presser foot.
I had a combo machine (Evolve) and it was lovely; but it didn't take me long to realize that a separate serger (non-combination) and coverstitch were far more suitable to me.
And your milage may differ substantially.

-- Edited on 10/21/14 at 8:37 AM --
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I heart Woo (HimmyCat). Until we meet again, my beautiful little boy. I love you.
Posted on: 10/22/14 1:05 AM ET
I agree 100% with what Lynn says. IMHO the Evolution vs the Enlighten is like a Hummer vs a Mercedes 450. Get the Enlighten and spend any extra on other toys!
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Janome 6500P, Babylock Eclipse SX, Janome Coverpro 1000, Babylock BLCS, Juki 654 (2), Babylock Spirit, Juki TL2010q, Brother PE770
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